An official from
another state attorney general's office said Microsoft already had submitted a
proposal, but added that lawyers from that state had not yet reviewed it.

Representatives from the Justice
Department (DOJ) and from other states declined to comment publicly.

Microsoft, which recently reiterated its willingness to settle the four-and-a-half month trial, said it expected to discuss a possible settlement soon, but declined to elaborate.

"We're not going to make any comments whatsoever about any potential
settlement conversations, should they occur," said Microsoft spokesman Mark
Murray. "This process is only going to be successful if it can occur in a
confidential manner."

The Justice Department and 19 states allege Microsoft is a monopolist that
illegally harmed competitors in its attempt to maintain its Windows dominance and create a new monopoly for Internet software. Microsoft vigorously denies the charges. Some legal observers say Microsoft has made critical mistakes in defending itself in federal court in Washington.

The trial, which is now in recess, is scheduled to resume on April 12, but may be delayed further because of a drug conspiracy case being heard by the
same judge.

Word of the proposal comes as state prosecutors from
across the nation meet in Washington for an annual meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General.
Among the attendees are a number of assistant attorneys general overseeing
the joint action against Microsoft, some of whom are believed to be charged
with reviewing the proposal.

Government officials and those from the Redmond, Washington, software
company say they have always been open to settling the case. But it is
unclear what has changed since last May, when the two sides entered in to
negotiations but failed to reach any agreement.

In recent statements, Microsoft has made clear that it intends to defend its right to add new features to its product, a key stumbling block in last year's talks.

Antitrust officials, still skeptical of Microsoft's earlier attempt to
settle the case, privately questioned Microsoft's most recent settlement
overtures. They criticized Microsoft for talking to the press about a
settlement before discussing the matter privately with them. Microsoft says
it is taking serious suggestions made to both sides by U.S. District Judge
Thomas Penfield Jackson to try to settle the case which the case is in recess.

Yesterday, Joel Klein, the U.S. assistant attorney general who heads the
Justice Department's antitrust division, said his office had not received
any settlement proposals from Microsoft. A Justice Department spokeswoman
said today she had no additional comment.